Iconic British bike brand Raleigh on the transition to electric

Electric bikes are the perfect choice for short journeys and commuting and offer far more benefits than simply transitioning to an electric vehicle. Increased e-bike use benefits you, the planet and the community around you. 

E-bikes make cycling feel easier, you still need to pedal but with assistance from the motor, the ride never feels too far or too challenging. On a flat road the rider may be providing most of the power but as the road goes up the e-bike takes the strain, you can control how much or how little assistance you require by switching modes. An e-bike can make you feel more confident as the motor will assist you when you are setting off, helping you to clear a junction or if you want to accelerate around a hazard. 

E-bike motors in the UK are limited to 15.9mph, this doesn’t mean you can’t go faster but at that point the motor will provide no more assistance and any increase in speed comes from your own legs turning the pedals. 

Ease and convenience 

E-bikes remove some of the barriers to cycling, firstly by taking the physical strain but secondly by making cycling more convenient. E-bikes put less physical strain on your joints, heart and breathing making cycling possible for everyone, even people who might find a conventional bike too challenging to use regularly.

As an e-bike requires less physical effort you can comfortably ride in your work clothes and not worry about getting sweaty. You can ride an e-bike even when you feel tired, just increase the support from the motor on those sleepy Monday mornings. On an e-bike, unlike driving an EV car, you don’t get stuck in traffic jams or help to create them, removing congestion from the roads for everyone. With an e-bike there are no time tables, no waiting for your bus or train and no staring impotently at the bumper in front. 

How e-bikes benefit your health 

There are very well documented health benefits to e-cycling and contrary to popular myths that an e-bike is somehow ‘cheating’ e-bike users actually experience a greater boost to their health.  The ease of e-cycling encourages more frequent cycling over greater distances than a conventional bike, one study reveals, and another shows even greater benefit when inactive people are given an e-bike as an alternative form of transport. 

Several studies have shown that cycle commuters are happier than those who arrive at work by other forms of transport. That alone sounds like a good reason to switch to an e-bike! 

Raleigh have always been at the forefront of cycling and e-bikes are no exception, “ e-bikes are as revolutionary to the way we travel as the invention of  the original bicycle” says Edward Pegram, Head of Marketing at Raleigh UK, “they make such a positive difference to individuals and communities that we see them as one of the most important bikes in our current range.”  

As with conventional bikes, e-bikes come in a wide range of designs to suit every rider’s needs. The comfortable, upright position of the Motus with a low step through-frame makes it an easy bike for everyone to ride as there is no need to swing your leg up and over to mount or dismount. The lightweight, traditionally styled city-bike Trace makes every commute enjoyable, as well as being a convenient way to get to work.  For those with a little bit more to shift, or families with young children the Stride cargo-bike has enough power to help move heavy loads with ease. It makes an excellent alternative to a family car for the school run, trips out and shopping. 

The Centros is designed to make your active lifestyle even more action packed. With a battery that can take you up to 130 miles on a single charge you can ride further and discover more. With easy to click-in accessories you can set your bike up for multi-day bike-packing adventures, transporting your kit to the beach or getting off the beaten track on cross-country trails. In a style to suit everyone it is available as a hub-gear low-step model and a cross-bar version with derailleur gears. 

With greener transport and e-bike use especially, it is not what we do some of the time but what we do most of the time that will make the biggest difference to the environment.  In the UK in 2020  statistics from the Department of Transport revealed that 25% of trips were under 1 mile, and 71% under 5 miles. An e-bike makes a viable alternative to other forms of transport for short journeys.  Just swapping to an e-bike for some of our short journeys can make a big difference to our health, well-being and road congestion as well as the environment.   

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